FIDE World Cup: Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra takes a shot at chess, makes ceremonial first move in the final
On Monday in Panaji, India’s first individual Olympic gold‑medallist Abhinav Bindra made a memorable stop at the FIDE World Cup 2025. He formally opened the final between Chinese grandmaster Wei Yi and Uzbekistani grandmaster Javokhir Sindarov with a ceremonial first move, giving the crowd a nod of respect for the sport that has long been a national pastime.
The 43‑year‑old, who lifted the 10‑m air‑rifle gold medal in Beijing 2008 and inspired a whole generation of athletes to dream big, was in Goa to watch elite chess battles and even tried his hand at the game itself, dabbling in a few rounds with a FIDE official.
After hanging up his rifle after Rio 2016, Bindra has devoted himself to fostering sporting talent through the Abhinav Bindra Foundation. The trust spotlights emerging athletes and applies worldwide best‑practice sports science to help India’s next champions rise.
Speaking to reporters at the event, the former world champion praised the decision by the AICF and FIDE to bring the World Cup back to India after a 23‑year hiatus. He also hinted at a potential partnership to grow chess nationally, noting that the game demands both mental focus and a touch of physical fitness. “If players and brands are ready to engage, I’d be glad to help look after their development,” he added.
Later in the day, Wei Yi held Sindarov to a draw in their opening game, while Andrey Esipenko edged Nodirbek Yakubboev to claim third place in the World Cup 2025.
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